MATED TO MY BROTHER'S ENEMY
Her face was streaked with mud and tears, a classy look, honestly, but her eyes were fierce, lit up with the same stubbornness that made her volunteer for the nuttiest part of this stupid plan.
“Cook,” Joy whispered, breathless. “Princess Lyra needs you.”
The old lady whipped around. Recognition lit her up for half a second. “Joy, girl! By the gods, you’re alive. After they hauled you off.”
“I got loose. We all did. Or we will, if we can stop Kael’s creepy ritual.” Joy shot a look at the scared staff crammed in the store room. “No time to waste.”
Cook’s knuckles went white on the ladle. “Tell me what to do.”